Storage bins



Sept'. 3, 1957 L. E. WUNDERWALD EI'AL STORAGE BINS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 8. 1954 Sept. 3, 1957 E. WUNDERWALD ET AL 2,804,897

STORAGE BINS Filed July 8, 1954 s sheets-sheet 2 Sept. 3, 1957 L. E. WUNDERWALD ET AL 2,804,897

STORAGE sms Filed July 8, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIGA.

STORAGE BINS Leon E. Wunderwald, Great Falls, Mont., and Richard L. Rosebrough, Webster Groves, Mo.; said Rosebrough assignor to Bemis Bro. Bag Company, St. Louis, M0., a corporation of Missouri Application July 8, 1954, Serial No. 441,972

10 Claims. (Cl. 15G-.5)

This invention 'relates to storage bins, and with regard to certain more specific features, to tlexible erectile and `collapsible protective storage bins for harvest crops, such as dry grains or the like, which 'materials are amenable to more or less ilowable piling.

This invention is an improvement upon that shown in'our copending United States patent application Serial No. 388,100, tiled October 26, 1953, for Storage Bins, eventuated as Patent 2,730,150, issued January 10, 1956.

Among the several objects of the invention may be noted the provision of a exible, weatherproof and lowcost, erectile and collapsible storage bin for farm products of the class stated, wherein, without destroying its weatherproof characteristics when loaded, there is included foolproof means for conveniently opening the bin forl unloading; the provision of a bin of the class described including weatherproof and verminproof means for effecting ventilation of the contained products; and the provision of a storage bin of this class having improved supporting' means for its loading neck during loading. Other objects and features will :be Vin part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the constructions hereinafter described, the scope ofthe invention being indicated in the following claims.

ln the accompanying drawings, in`which one of va'rious possible embodiments of the invention is illustrated,

Fig. l is a 'top plan view of our new bin Yin loaded condition;

Fig. 2 is a bottom Vplan view on a reduced scale;

Fig. 3 is an isometric view of the loaded bin;

Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of closing and 'opening means shown partially open;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged diagrammatic crosssection taken on lines 5-5 of Figs. l and 4;

Fig. 6 is a detail perspective View of certain ventilating means, parts being broken away; and

Fig. 7 is an enlarged section taken on line 7;-7 of Fig. l.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several'views ofthe drawings.

As set forth in said patent, during harvesting periods, produce, particularly grain, is often so rapidly collected that there may not be immediately available sutlicient space in commercial elevators orin other permanently protected storage areas. As a'result,fqua`ntities of grain may be lost or impaired in value by open piling in the lield. Attempts have heretofore been made to improve this state of affairs by locating groups of rigid storage bins near a eld of operations, these being composed of wood, metal cr the like. Such bins'not only have a high first cost but also entail a large overhead'cost because of the minor fraction of the year over which they may be used, for as soon as possibleV after a harvesting season the grain is disposed of. It is also nconvenient to bring such bins into theclosest desirable States Patet lventilation into the contents of the bin. eachsegment 11 around each screen as at 25 is a foldable fabric canopy 27, preferably formed of the same proximity to the harvesting area. 4inconvenient to load and unload.

Briefly, the invention set forth in said patent consists in the provision of a storage bin composed of llexible material made up in the form of a flat-bottomed conelike or pyramidal .shape (when filled), vand which is collapsible when empty so that Yit may .be put into a bundle for storage or which, if necessary, can be left tiled in the eld for indefinite periods until the stored .grain can be disposed of. The patterns for the main .parts are of elementary flat shapes Whch are convenient to produce either in integral areas of material (if available) or strips of multi-ply material joined by waterresistant seaming.

While the exible material, as described in said patent, may be made of a single piece of flexible `sheetin-g such as one of the known exible plastic sheets, or of waterresistant woven fabric, either single-ply or multi-ply, it is preferable for purposes of economy, and in view of the Arelatively usual large size of the bin, that it be composed of multi-ply strips. The plies of a suitable multiply material may be paper attached to burlap by means of asphalt or a similar Awater-resistant adhesive. It will be understood that other suitable materials may be used for the purpose.

The improvements herein upon the above yconstruction :consists 4of means for conveniently unloading the bin, -Ventilating its contents and strengthening its lloading neck. zReferring now more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, there is shown at numeral 1 a circular bottom composed of strips 3, joined by moisture proof seams 5. Extending from the periphery of the bottom 1 are attached tabs .7 incorporating grommeted openings 9 by means of which the bottom may be staked -to the ground.

At 11 are shown side segments attached to the bottom 1 by means of a waterproof seam 13. Each segment is `composed of strips 15, 15', joined by waterproof lap seams 17 so positioned and lapped as to turn off Water tlowing down the sides of a lled bin (Fi-gs. 1 and 3). The strips v15, 15 are located parallel to one segment :margin and normal to its other margin. Each segment includes at least one Ventilating opening such as shown at 19 (Fig. 6), covered by a eXible screen 21 stitched to .the respective segment as at 23. The screen may be Moreover, vthey are composed of woven yopen-mesh fabric, metal or plastic The screen acts as a vermin guard but allows Stitched to strands.

lexible waterproof material of which the remainder of the bin is composed. This canopy when folded out has a downwardly facing opening 29 so as to act as a storm guard or canopy over the screen 21. The canopy may Vthereto (by means of stitching 35) zipper strips 37, having the usual interlocking ranges of zipper teeth 39. Each pair of ranges of teeth is adapted to be opened and closed by means of a Zipper runner 41 such as shown in dotted lines at the top of Fig. 3. The strips 37 extend from the r ends of the tongues 33 down to strengthening panels 31, Vwhich-are stitched to and overlay the lower corners of the segments 11. At the upper ends they are provided -with the usual` stops for preventing the respective runners 41 from running olf the ranges of zipper teeth 39. Further details of these zipper arrangements are unnecessary, since their structures are known.

4of a hollow cone. Y grommets 65 apply stresses near the end of the neck 63,

At numerals 43 and 45 are shown underlying and overlying outside covering weatherstrips, seamed to the segments 11 at 47 and 49, respectively. rl'he seam 49 also marginally anchors an inside protective strip 51. All of the strips 43, 45 and 51 are adapted to lap the zipper assembly 35, 37, 39. The inner strip 51 protects the zipper against being snarled by inside particles and the outer weatherstrips 43 and 45 are for weatherproolng, being composed of the same weatherproof material as the remainder of the bin.

Attached to weatherstrip 43, adjacent the seam 47, are hooks 53. Attached to weatherstrip 45, adjacent the Vmargin of the strip 45, are grommet eyes 55. The eyes 55 `are for the purpose of lacing in a tie cord 57, which is knotted at both ends as shown at 59 to prevent its escape Yafter lacing. The cord 57 is long enough that loop portions 61 of the cord between the eyes 55 may be looped over the hooks 53 to effect a closure, as illustrated at the top of Fig. 4; or unhooked, as illustrated at the bottom, to effect opening.

The neck 63 is provided with supporting grommets 65. it is also provided with vertical supporting strips 67, sewn on at lower points as at 69. These strips have at their ends supporting grommets 71. The loose ends of strips 67 are held down by cross straps 73, sewn onto the neck at the sides of strips 67, as shown at 75.

ln View of the above, it will be seen that the bin is of a exible nature and that for storage it may be folded and/or rolled up into a relatively small package, even when made large, for example, 22 ft. or so in diameter for V1,000 bu. capacity when loaded. When needed, it is unvrolled or unfolded and the bottom is laid out dat and staked to the ground (see stakes 77 in Fig. 3). Then the zipper assembly 35, 37, 39 is closed and the weatherstrips 43 and 45 may be laced up, or this lacing may be deferred. The neck 63 is drawn up and supported by grommets 65 and 71 on suitable hooks or the like around the lower end of a vertical filling spout for grain. Such a spout forms the usual outlet of a grain conveyor such as it used in the eld. The bin then has the general form It will be noted that the supporting while the supporting strips 67 transmit such stresses down to the stitching 69. Such an arrangement distributes stresses at the upper end of the neck and minimizes tearing in the neck area.

Assuming that the neck is connected to a spout as above described, the grain is allowed to run into the bin through the neck 63, gradually filling and extending the bin. If cord 57 has not been laced, such lacing may be effected 'from the bottom up as the bin distends. After it has been (filled up to the bottom of the neck (Fig. 3), the neck is disconnected and folded down, as indicated in Fig. 1. its end then points downward, so as to prevent entry of precipitation due to weather. lf desired, a cord may be threaded through the grommets 65 and the open end of the downwardly pointing neck 63 and tied. The canopies 27 are then drawn out, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 6, to provide ventilation. Air gradually finds its way by convection through the interstices of the grain and out of the neck 63 which, even though tied, will not be airtight. Since the openings of the canopies are directed downward, they also act to dellect precipitation due to weather.

It will be noted from Figs. 4 and 5 that the width of the underlying weatherstrip 43 is suflicient that when it is laid over the closed zipper assembly 35, 37, 39 and tucked under the overlying weatherstrip 45, said weatherstrip 43 will automatically assume a re-entrant shape 79.

-This will prevent moisture that might blow in under `weatherstrip 45 from reaching the zipper, the shape 79 acting as a downwardly sloping carry-off gutter or flashing. This re-entrant shape 79 occurs automatically upon Y closure because the strip is wide enough that the shape 79 must be effected before strip 45 can be broughtdown and fastened by means of the cord 57.

'the closure.

When it is desired to unload the bin, the supports at grommets 65, 71 'are removed. One or more of the cords 57 are removed from the hooks 53. This allows the overlying weatherstrip 45 to be laid back. Then the underlying weatherstrip 43 may be laid back in the opposite direction, thus exposing the zipper assembly 35, 37, 39, 41. This allows the appropriate zipper runner 41 to be pulled down and the upper portions of the segments 11 to be separated. This exposes the head of the contained pile of grain, so that it may be reached by any suitable type of unloader such as a screw type unloader, suction type or even by hand shoveling. As the height of the pile of grain is reduced, the appropriate, or all zipper runners, 41 may be pulled further down to expose more of the upper portion of the grain pile for progressive removal until the bin is empty. Finally, the zipper runners will be located at or near the panels 31, and the panels may be laid open radially, with practically the entire interior of the bin exposed for complete removal. After complete emptying, the bin may be reclosed either for subsequent packaging and storage or for immediate refilling. Or it may be stored with the seams open between segments.

Advantages of the invention are the provision in a lowcost erectile and collapsible bin of convenient and foolproof means for opening and unloading it, said means being completely and thoroughly waterproof when closed. It will be noted in this connection that opening and closing operations are convenient, since it is unnecessary to thread and unthread the captive tie cords 57. Moreover, the weatherstrip 43 cannot be placed into closed position without automatically bringing about the reentrant condition shown at 79 for positively waterproofing Also, the zipper construction 37, 39, when the runners 41 are operated, is protected against jamming from the interior grain by the inner protective strip 51. In addition, the contents of the bin are convectively ventilated by reason of the waterproofed screened openings 19, and top waterproof air outlet afforded by the downwardly directed neck 63, whether tied or untied.

Among the more detailed advantages of the construction are the following: The tie cord 57, which is interlaced in the grommets 55, is held captive with the overlying weatherstrip 45, whether this strip is open or closed. This protects it against loss and avoids the necessity for interlacing it each time that a fastening is to be made. It needs only to be hooked over the hooks 53. The zipper assembly 37, 39 and the weatherstrip do not extend down to the seam between the walls of the bin and its bottom, but are located at a distance therefrom, as determined by the panels 31. This serves to strengthen the entirely peripheral lower margin of the bin around its bottom, giving it ample hoop strength. The weatherstrips 43 and 45 downwardly lap the respective panels 31 for i weatherprooiing.

As set forth in said patent, the angle between the sloping sides of the bin and its bottom, when unfilled, is preferably slightly larger than the angle of repose of the piled material for which the bin is designed, which minimizes air pocketing upon lling and localized high side-wall pressures when full.

In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results attained.

As various changes could be made in the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

We claim: v

l.V An erectile and collapsible storage bin for harvest crops and the like comprising a circular bottom, upwardly converging flexible wall segments attached to and extending from the peripheral portion of said bottom, the

side edges of the wall segments having marginal connections and converging toward one another, a loading neck having segments respectively extending from the wall segments substantially at the region of their closest convergence, said extensions also having marginal connections extending respectively from said marginal connections between the wall segments, and at least one openable and closable means extending from a point near said bottom to and through said loading neck and forming one of said marginal connections between two adjacent side edges of said wall and neck segments respectively.

2. An erectile and collapsible storage bin for harvest crops and the like comprising a circular bottom, upwardly converging individual llexible wall portions at tached to and extending from the peripheral portion of said bottom, the side edges of the individual wall portions converging toward one another, a exible loading neck extending from the wall portions substantially at the region of their closest convergence, and a plurality of manually openable and closable zipper-type seams extending from points near the bottom upward through said loading neck and releasably joining adjacent side edges of said wall portions.

3. An erectile and collapsible storage bin made according to claim 2, including manually openable and closable overlapping weatherstrips attached to the wall portions on opposite sides adjacent said seams respectively.

4. An erectile and collapsible storage bin for harvest crops and the like comprising a bottom, upwardly converging individual flexible wall portions attached t0 and extending from the peripheral portion of said bottom, the side edges of the individual wall portions converging toward one another, a exible loading neck formed by individual extensions from the wall portions substantially at the region of their closest convergence, a plurality of openable and closable seams extending from points near the bottom upward through said loading neck, each seam comprising zipper closure elements on adjacent margins of said wall portions and said extensions and an opening and closing zipper runner therefor, outside underlying and overlying weatherstrips attached to said adjacent margins for closure to and opening from positions overlying the zipper closure elements, and fastening meansV for said weatherstrips.

5. An erectile and collapsible storage bin for harvest crops and the like made according to claim 4, wherein said fastening means is constituted by a series of eyes located in the overlying weatherstrip and a series of hooks on the underlying weatherstrip and a tie cord interlacing the eyes and provided with opposite endwise means adapted to hold the cord captive in the eyes, said cord being of a length to provide loops for engaging said hooks.

6. An erectile and collapsible storage bin made according to claim 4, wherein said outside underlying weatherstrip is of such width and so distanced from the attachment of the overlying weatherstrip that when closed said underlying weatherstrip automatically assumes a re-entrant fold adapted to prevent any water that may enter under the overlying weatherstrip from reaching the zipper elements.

7. An erectile and collapsible storage bin made according to claim 4, including an inner protective strip attached to a margin of a wall portion and underlying the adjacent zipper elements.

8. An erectile and collapsible storage bin for harvest crops and the like comprising a bottom, upwardly converging flexible Wall portions attached to and extending from the peripheral portion of said bottom, the side edges of said wall portions converging toward one another, a ilexible loading neck extending from the wall portions substantially at the region of their closest convergence, said neck having a group of openings adjacent its margin for supporting means, strips fastened to the neck at a distance from the end of said neck, the free end portions of said strips having additional openings for supporting means.

9. An erectile and collapsible .storage bin made according to claim 8, including additional strips located outside and crosswise of the first-mentioned strips and attached to the loading neck and adapted to hold the lirst-rnentioned strips against the loading neck below the openings in the Erst-mentioned strips.

l0. An erectile and collapsible storage bin for harvest crops and the like comprising a flexible circular bottom, llexible side wall segments peripherally attached to said bottom, the side edges of the individual segments converging toward one another, a exible tongue formed by an extension on each segment, and zipper-type openable seams connecting adjacent margins of the segments and tongues, adapted to form when closed an upwardly converging flexible container having an upper llexible filling neck.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 844,632 Thompson Feb. 19, 1907 983,492 Harriss Feb. 7, 1911 1,105,986 McKenzie Aug. 4, 1914 1,790,005 Droutman Jan. 27, 1931y 2,254,578 OBrien Feb. 2, 1941 2,426,195 Geraci Aug. 26, 1947 2,638,951 Smith et al May 19, 1953 2,650,401 LaMond Sept. 1, 1953 2,690,778 Walsh Oct. 5, 1954 

